(Mis)fortune (Judgement of the Six Book 2) Read online

  When I glanced back at the man, he again looked out the window while he sipped his coffee. His bill lay on his table, and I hoped he’d leave soon. Even though I felt certain I’d never seen him before, something about him made me very aware of him. Maybe just the fact that he’d caught me dozing. I really didn’t want any witnesses when I face-planted my meatloaf.

  The waitress brought our drinks, and I took a big gulp for something to do. I leaned back in the booth and saw the man watching again so I arched a brow at him. If he wasn’t after me, what was his deal? Didn’t his mother teach him it wasn’t nice to stare?

  He had the nerve to grin at me. My stomach did a weird flip again. I frowned and looked away then started asking the boys about what they’d drawn.

  The man’s smile hadn’t been a leer or even a smile-because-she-looks-crazy type of smile. It had been a kind, hi-how-are-you smile...with a dimple. So, what was up with the stomach flip? Sure, he looked attractive. But hadn’t I learned not to react to how someone looked?

  After a few minutes, the waitress came back with our meal and extra plates. I divided the special between the three of us and placed the french fries so they could share. Hot mashed potatoes were a nice change from chips, but reminded me of the last dinner with Blake and his men. I shuddered and took a bite of the meatloaf instead.

  The boys dug into their food, and I felt a pang of guilt. I’d been caring for them for four years. Crying babies, diapers, throw-up, you name it. In the beginning, Richard had helped, but Blake made the rules and didn’t want Richard near me. In reality, Blake had wanted me to bond with the boys so he had power over me. Yet, he never allowed me to care for them without supervision. David watched everything and controlled our time together.

  I brushed Aden’s hair back tenderly. I loved them so much...even at their most annoying. I just wanted them to be safe.

  We’d made it over forty-eight hours without any Blake sightings. That had to mean something.

  The few other customers who’d been sitting when we entered slowly trickled out as we ate. Eventually, only the man remained. The boys finished their meals and nibbled on the fries while they continued to draw.

  I forced myself to keep eating, diligently working my way through the small piles of food on my plate. I needed the nourishment as much as I needed sleep. Eating while I drove hadn’t worked well for me. Split concentration almost landed us in the ditch. I just hoped after this break I wouldn’t confuse the pedals again as I had in the beginning.

  My continued to struggle to keep my eyes open—they felt hot and gritty—eventually made me to set my fork aside. I stood and let the boys out to use the ladies room behind us. My legs felt weak and achy so I leaned against the back of the bench seat.

  The waitress spotted me beside the booth and came over with the bill. I handed her the cash and told her to keep the change. She smiled her thanks and walked away. Before I could move, the room started to tilt. I held onto the back of the booth, waited for it to pass, then went to check on the boys.

  When we walked out of the bathroom, the man’s booth sat empty. I felt slightly relieved...and maybe a little disappointed, too.

  We stepped into the afternoon sun, and I noted that the parking lot had cleared since we’d arrived. Not paying attention, I staggered a little when we stepped down from the curbed sidewalk that surrounded the diner. I looked around to see if anyone had noticed.

  The man stood near his bike, searching in the panniers. His lingering presence should have made me nervous, but I was too tired to care. If he left before we reached the car, I’d take it as a sign I should nap in the parking lot.

  Between walking, wishing for sleep, and the motorcycle man, I didn’t notice the vehicle parked on the far side of my own. When I recognized David’s vehicle, I faltered and my stomach sank. Beside me, Aden whimpered, and I gave both their hands a reassuring squeeze. We all knew what David’s presence meant.

  My tired, strained eyes darted around the parking area, trying to locate David. He didn’t let me look too long. With a mocking smile, he stepped from behind his SUV. Dressed in his usual khaki pants and dark V-neck sweater, he looked fresh and ready to drag me kicking and screaming back to my prison. He looked me over, unconcerned that I’d stopped walking and stood several feet away.

  Suddenly, I didn’t feel so tired.

  “Michelle, you look terrible,” David said in a patronizing tone. “In fact, I’d have to say you look like hell. Not surprising since you’ve only been sitting still a few minutes at a time.” His smug look evaporated, leaving impatience. “I’ve followed you long enough. It’s time to come home.”

  Followed? I stared at him blankly. I’d been checking my mirrors and staying to the back roads. I never planned where I was going to turn until I turned. I would have seen him.

  David laughed at my expression. “Good thing Blake knew Richard arranged for you to have this,” he patted the car. “You might have disappeared without a trace otherwise.”

  I stared at the car for a moment before I understood. Angry, I swallowed hard and met his eyes again.

  “How’s your head?” I asked, refusing to acknowledge the fact that our escape had been a lie. “You went down pretty hard.”

  He narrowed his eyes at me, but I didn’t cower. That part of my life was behind me. We were in a moderately populated area. If I screamed, someone would notice. If I sent Liam running back into the diner to call the police, David would be in trouble. He had no hold over my brothers or me, and thanks to Richard, I had our birth certificates to prove it. I only needed to keep him away from the boys until help arrived. If he got one of them, he’d have the advantage he needed to force my compliance.

  “Walk away, David.”

  He stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked down at his shoes briefly before meeting my eyes again.

  “You know I can’t.”

  His look held no apology, only determination and, perhaps, a bit of fear.

  So he did know about Blake. Then, we both knew he couldn’t walk away.

  He took a step forward, and I nudged the boys behind me. David looked deceptively calm as I stood my ground. He took another step toward me, and I could see the promise in his eyes.

  I opened my mouth to tell Liam to run for help, but David paused. His attention shifted as he looked past me.

  “This man have any legal rights to these kids?” a smooth baritone said from somewhere behind me.

  I didn’t turn to look at the speaker. I knew who it was because I hadn’t heard the motorcycle leave yet. I hadn’t expected his help, though.

  “None,” I said, keeping my eyes on David. “Their father recently passed away. This man is no relation to me or my stepfather.” I listened to the faint scrape of the man’s boots on the blacktop as he came closer.

  The man’s calm voice held no a trace of anger or threat when he spoke.

  “Then you and your partner should walk away like she said.”

  The word partner made my stomach sink, and I risked looking away from David. Another man had been making his way around the other side of the car, obviously trying to circle behind us. I felt a surge of relief that it wasn’t Blake, himself.

  David didn’t look very concerned that someone wanted to help me. In fact, he smiled, and I understood why. Both David and his partner had bulk—not the fluffy kind—compared to the motorcycle man’s lean, muscled build.

  “Two to one. Better for your health to move along,” David said using a tone that usually meant punishment. Lockdown for me. And for my brothers, a cuff upside the head and then a lockdown.

  The man behind me gave a low chuckle. “I’m not too worried about it.”

  I was. The boys each clutched one of my legs and peeked around me. I reached back with both hands and hid their faces in my shirt as David pulled a gun from behind him. A small sound of terror escaped me as the barrel swung toward the man. Then David’s partner moved toward us, walking right into David’s line of fire.


  From the corner of my eye, I saw motorcycle man dive for David’s partner. He hit the guy hard and brought him to the ground. David grunted and swung the gun in motorcycle man’s direction. I shuffled back a step. David caught my movement and glanced at me as motorcycle man’s elbow drew back then shot forward, lighting fast. A sickening crunch sounded.

  Motorcycle man ducked around the front of the vehicle, leaving me alone to face David. I couldn’t blame him for running.

  Flushed with anger, David glanced at me then cautiously backed up a step. He glanced around the side of his SUV, and I understood he thought the man wasn’t gone. After a moment, David quietly rounded the back of his vehicle. The loud thud I heard made me jump. Then, there was silence. I started backing up again, too afraid to hope.

  A scuff of noise drew my attention. The man with the smooth voice and friendly smile emerged from behind the SUV. He looked completely unharmed. His eyes swept over us, and he gave me the faintest smile.

  My throat tightened with the need to cry as I stood there shaking with relief. My stomach started doing those crazy dips and flips again, but I didn’t care. I loosened the death grip I had on the boys’ heads.

  “Thank you,” I managed to whisper, not taking my eyes from him. His face held my attention. He felt so familiar. I wished I knew why.

  He studied me closely with a slightly troubled expression. I could guess at what he saw.

  “You’re tired. Can you drive for a few miles?”

  Could I? I didn’t have a choice. We needed to keep running. So I nodded.

  “I’ll follow you to make sure these two don’t.”

  Gratitude swamped me.

  “Need help getting your kids in?” he said as he looked down at Aden and Liam.

  My kids? I didn’t correct him. Physically, I looked older than my nineteen years. The last several years had matured me.

  “No, but thanks.”

  He stayed close as I opened the back door for the boys. I made Liam crawl through first with an order not to look out the window. They both listened immediately, wide-eyed and quiet.

  Once the boys were in, the man held my door for me. He leaned on the frame, watching me as I buckled. Worry lined his face.

  “Just drive south,” he said. “I’ll be right behind you.”

  I nodded, and his eyes glided over my face in another close study before he closed the door. He’d most likely been trying to figure out how long I would be able to drive. I honestly wasn’t sure.

  Chapter 2

  His motorcycle roared to life, a signal that I needed to put my key in the ignition. I didn’t look to the right as I backed out of our spot, but I knew I’d cleared all prone forms when I didn’t hit any speed bumps. The persistent roar of the motorcycle reassured me as I pulled out of the parking lot and headed south just as he’d said. After a few minutes, we passed the town’s sign thanking us for visiting.

  The adrenaline from the confrontation stayed with me for a few more miles then I started to slump.

  The motorcycle suddenly grew louder, and I checked my mirrors, only swerving a little at the distraction. He pulled out from behind me as if to pass but, instead, stayed next to me. I spared a quick glance at him. He rode with his visor up so I could see his troubled eyes.

  He pointed to a spot in front of us—a small combination used car lot, junkyard, and farm implement supplier—and motioned for me to pull over. I nodded, fumbled for the blinker, and braked firmly. Thankfully, I’d pressed the correct pedal. I turned onto the gravel driveway still going a bit too fast, and my tires slid over the gravel for a few feet, making my backend swerve. I barely managed to pull to the side and park.

  Heart racing from the wild turn, I put my head back against the headrest, closed my eyes, and willed myself to stop shaking. The boys remained mute behind me. I knew I needed to reassure them, not just about my driving but also about our future. I didn’t know what I could say that wouldn’t end up as a lie. Would everything be okay? David had found us, they could follow our vehicle, and I appeared to be listening to a complete stranger. No, I had nothing.

  A knock on my window made me jump. The man stood next to my door, his motorcycle already parked behind him. He eyed me with concern. I hadn’t even noticed the roar of his engine die. This close I could distinguish the deep blue of his eyes from his pupils. I cautiously rolled down the window a few inches.

  “You were starting to swerve,” he said quietly, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “How long since you last slept?”

  I didn’t want to admit that the swerving was just the way I drove. I considered his question. About thirty-three hours if I counted the very short nap I’d taken while stopped at a stop sign until someone had honked at me. I knew people could survive a heck of a lot longer than that without sleeping. I wasn’t sure I could go much longer, though.

  “It’s been a while.” My voice came out scratchy.

  “That man, David, hinted this was how he followed you,” he said gesturing to the car.

  It took me a moment to catch up with his thinking, and I understood why he’d wanted me to pull over here specifically. I needed a different car.

  I looked at the single small building on the property. A man stood just outside the door, watching us. When the man noticed my attention, he started walking toward us. My stomach flipped and not in a good way. I had no idea what I was doing.

  “Come on, guys. Let’s unbuckle and get out. Stay close,” I said unnecessarily. The man backed up so I could open my door. He glanced at the salesman then turned his attention back to us...me.

  I really needed to ask his name, but the salesman wasted no time closing the distance between us.

  “Howdy, folks. What can I do for you?”

  “I need a different car,” I said while Aden climbed out and moved close to me. Liam already stood at my side. I gently ran my fingers through their hair, trying to give them what comfort I could without being obvious about it.

  “A trade?” the salesman said. I nodded, and he looked thoughtful. “To be honest, your car is probably worth two of any of the cars I have.”

  I glanced at my mother’s car. The bright red paint sparkled in the afternoon sun. I didn’t know a thing about cars, but even four years old, it still looked new. Part of me wanted to cry at the thought of leaving it behind. I had nothing else of hers. When we’d run, we’d run fast, just as Richard had said. I hadn’t even grabbed any clothes.

  “It’s okay,” I lied. “The insurance on this thing is too much for me. I need something worth a little less to bring down the premiums.” Not bad for someone using the few cells still awake in her brain. Even locked away as long as I’d been, I wasn’t completely clueless. Blake often rewarded good premonitions with simple things like magazines and books.

  We trailed behind the dealer as he moved through the collection of vehicles on his tiny lot. He showed us a dark blue truck flecked with bits of rust. It had dual gas tanks, but I would probably only get half the mileage I’d been getting. Not that it mattered. I still had a good chunk of Richard’s cash.

  “I’ll take it,” I said firmly. The motorcycle man looked a little surprised that I’d agreed right away. I didn’t care about fair deals. I just wanted to keep moving.

  “Come inside, and we’ll sign the papers. Do you have the title with you?”

  It took me a moment to process his request. Title. Paperwork from Richard. Glovebox.

  “Yes, I think so. Let me go get it.”

  “I’ll get it for you and move your things,” the man said from behind me, making me glad he hadn’t left yet. My thoughts didn’t flow as quickly as they should.

  The boys and I walked to the office building with the salesman. The motorcycle man joined us a few minutes later with the papers from the glovebox. It didn’t take us very long.

  We walked out of the office fifteen minutes later with the truck’s unfamiliar keys biting into my palm. I questioningly glanced at the motorcycle man as he walked next to us.
Why hadn’t he taken off yet? It wasn’t that I minded him being there. It was just unexpected, as was his motorcycle already sitting in the bed of the truck.

  “I hope you’ll accept my help for a little longer. You need to move from here, but you don’t look like you’ll be able to stay awake for very long.” He glanced from me to the boys, who craned their necks to look up at him.

  Since my driving sucked even when I was well rested, I needed to think of the boys. If I got behind the wheel, I’d be just as dangerous as David. But could I consider the man in front of us any less dangerous? He’d just beaten two men with apparent ease, and I still didn’t know his name.

  “Who are you?” I asked.

  “Emmitt, for now. When you’re more awake, I’ll give you whatever details you want.”

  I nodded, too tired to think of another option. Accepting a stranger’s help was better than falling asleep somewhere and risking recapture. If that happened, it wouldn’t be me who Blake would punish. I gently squeezed Aden’s and Liam’s hands.

  Emmitt walked with us to the passenger door and held it open while we piled in. The truck only had a single bench seat; we would be driving illegally for a while. I put Liam in first and kissed the top of his head. After putting Aden next to him, I buckled them in together. Out the back window, I noticed the car seats in the bed with the motorcycle.

  I settled myself into my own tight space aware that Emmitt was waiting until I buckled up to close the door. As he walked around the hood of the truck, his eyes scanned the road, the direction from which we’d come, and it made me glad he was still with us. Plus, I liked looking at him. My stomach agreed.

  He slid into his own seat, asked Liam if he had enough room, then started the truck. He pulled out and nodded to the salesman as we passed.

  “Which direction should I head?” he said after a few minutes of silence.

  The sound of his voice startled my eyes open. I couldn’t remember closing them.